One of my goals for 2011 was to reduce my consumption of soft drinks by 90 percent.
I will say, I have not been perfect in meeting this goal. One thing I have found about goals is that when life gets tough, it can be difficult to focus on goals. However, my consumption has definitely decreased, although maybe not as much as I would like.
As part of my pop reduction plan, I decided to allow myself a cup of coffee per day. (My original goal was not to eliminate caffeine, but to stop drinking sugary soda, and I don’t want to drink diet pop.) What I have found though is that I truly look forward to that cup of coffee every morning. I mean REALLY look forward to it. I just have one small cup, along with a square of 72 percent dark chocolate, and I find my mood is fantastic. It isn’t that I am crabby without it, I am just really happy when I drink it (and afterward). I don’t even notice a post-caffeine crash.
I never, ever thought I would enjoy coffee so much. I just add a splash of chocolate milk to it along with maybe 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, and I am all set. My new vice has way less calories than pop, and it won’t destroy my teeth and bones like Coke does.
So, I am wondering, does coffee make anyone else this happy? I know that some people just drag along until they have had their morning coffee. That is not me, I generally have energy regardless. It is almost like my coffee and healthy chocolate are like a little happy pill for me. Perhaps I could mix the combination together in a lab and create my own pharmaceutical product? Or, am I the only one that is affected so positively?
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When I’m feeling stressed at work I’ll sometimes make myself a mug of tea. A hold over from my previous job with brits, my “tea time” makes me feel like I’m bringing civility to a chaotic environment. I’m usually much more relaxed and cheerful afterwards.
Glad you found a great replacement for soda!
No Debt- A lot of people seem to love tea, and I wish I was one of them. However, I am glad that I have been able to get Coke (mostly) out of my life.
No coffee for me, just don’t like the taste. But I drink plenty of diet Pepsi (under the illusion it helps keep my weight down :-)), tea and hot chocolate in the winter.
I am not a coffee drinker, unless its ice cream or a frapp, which isn’t really coffee. I drink a glass of water in the morning and that always makes me feel better. That dark chocolate would be enough to make me happy. Sounds delicious.
Congrats on drinking less soda. I stopped buying soda for our home a long time ago, but when we go out to eat I splurge.
Is it the coffee that is making you happy, or the chocolate milk, sugar, and chocolate?
Heather, the chocolate is definitely wonderful, and very high quality so it isn’t like ‘candy’ as much as a Hershey bar. I just have about 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, so that is almost negligible. So, I am going with mainly the coffee with an added boost from the wonderful chocolate!
Chocolate does that for me (and for many– there’s like papers in Pubmed on it and stuff). Join grumpy rumblings tomorrow for a quite lovely three-stanza ode to coffee.
DH hated coffee until he gave up soda. Now he regularly has to detox from his coffee addiction.
Nicole, is it hard for your husband to detox from coffee? I don’t really worry about that since I only drink (at most) one small cup a day. I do know others that drink it all day long. I don’t like the flavor enough for that, and I would have to eat a lot of chocolate for that habit!
I’m not really on in the morning until I have my cup of coffee. The problem with the coffee that I drink at work is that it taste horrible unless I mix in cream and sugar (a no-no on my diet), so currently it doesn’t make my happy but it does get me going!
I do look forward to it when I can mix is a little sugar and cream, at that point it’s almost like a dessert!
Congratulations on your progress kicking the soda (pop) habit. It’s not easy…
MR, I don’t think I will ever be able to tolerate purely ‘black’ coffee, it scares me.
I don’t know that a little cream and sugar is that bad, is it? I have a little bit of milk and sugar, but I don’t feel bad about it.
I’m an average coffee drinker and do notice the days I don’t drink coffee I tend to get tired quicker at work. But I’m digging your chocolate idea. I might have to try eating chocolate everyday and see if that changes my mood.
Jenna- have you tried adding healthy chocolate to your menu yet with the coffee? It is a wonderful thing.
You’re right about sodas destroying teeth – which is a good reason to cut them out. Believe me, it’s been tough for me over the years, but it can be done. I’ve learned lessons that have gotten me to this point! Good for you that you’ve found an alternative that’s working really well for you.
Squirrel- you are better than me as you have given up caffeine entirely. Do you still feel a lot better?
I am not a coffee drinker, however I do like a cappuccino. It was similar to an after dinner cocktail. I was hooked! I have since cut back to one a week. My drink of choice the rest of the time is water, simple tap water.
KC- I have been drinking a lot more water myself. Does the cappuccino keep you awake at night? Is it warm or cold? I am ignorant when it comes to drinks like that.
A 50/50 mix of cuban Bustelo (or Pilon) and Folgers, sometimes with a little ground cardamon mixed in. Two cups in the morning, and I’m good to go. I’ve switched to mostly tea though at work. Although the brown water that passes for coffee is free, I can only drink it occasionally.
First coffee is bad for you, and now it’s got all kinds of health benefits according to the latest studies. I only know that those two cups put a smile on my morning.
101- I know you are the king of quality coffee.
I am happy that coffee is supposed to be healthy. It helped justify my decision to substitute my pop for a cup of coffee a day.
Sandy, you’re one of, likely, a billion or more who love a cup of joe.
Just avoid migrating to 2 or more cups.
Personally I have developed my tastebuds now that Folgers or what not can not compare to a good organic fair trade freshly ground roast. I know nothing of the coffees themselves, but organic and fresh is best regardless the product.
I totally agree about having the quality product. I am that way about chocolate now too since I have switched to the high percentage dark chocolate. That is good though since I am now eating so much less chocolate now.
I confess that I drink a lot of coffee. On the days I work at home I make a 10 cup pot and can finish it by the afternoon; on the days I head to the office I can only consume the equivalent of 4 cups as I get ready in the morning and in my travel mug. At the office I’ll usually have one more cup in the morning and another in the afternoon.
However, I make half regular/half decaf at home, so I’m not getting a full dose of caffeine. And I always drink my coffee black — no milk/creamer and no sweetener — so I figure it’s not really bad for my waistline, at least.
I switched to “half-caff” about a year ago when I came to realize that I was having caffeine withdrawal symptoms while out of town for the weekend. I was a guest in a home that only had decaf available. Up until then, I really didn’t know I was addicted to the caffeine, so now I’m making efforts to cut back on the amount of caffeine I consume.
Oh my goodness- a caffeine free home? That would be difficult!
It doesn’t seem like it is difficult to get hooked on caffeine unfortunately. However, I don’t think it is that terrible for you in moderation. (Or at least that is what I tell myself!)
I loved coffee but now I can’t drink it anymore. Gives me stomach aches…so sad. I never drank gallons like some people, but when I stopped drinking it, my mood changed a lot. My boss even asked me if I had personal problems at home because I was so different. It took about 3 months to really feel myself again. It’s very easy to get addicted to. I found that I crave more sugary things now that I’m off caffeine. I’d much rather have the caffeine, but I can’t tolerate it.
Coffee is such a wonderful comfort drink. I keep telling myself that it must be somehow bad and we haven’t figured it out yet cuz why else does it makes me hurt so bad.
FGA- I found that I craved sugary things when I drank pop, but the craving lasted all day long. Now, I have my little square of chocolate, and that is the only sweet I really think about for the whole day.
In my early 20s, I remember drinking coffee when desperate, and it would destroy my stomach. Once I had a cup on an airplane and I thought I was going to cry. It was like I could picture that coffee eating a hole in my stomach. I have no such issues now though. Maybe it was the styrofoam cup I was drinking from causing my issues! 🙂
Coffee is excellent, but like most have said, it is best in moderation. Congratulations on making progress with your soft drink intake goal. I am a moderate coffee drinker myself despite spending several days a week as a barista in a local coffee shop. My alternative is a fresh ground, loose leaf tea. I can receive the caffeine I’m looking for each morning and by adding more water to the tea filter, I can extend my morning sip session without extending the total price tag that comes along with it.
PSG- That must be hard to drink coffee/tea moderately when you work as a barista! Your tea idea sounds like a great one. I just have not found a tea I really enjoy. It just doesn’t seem real flavorful to me However, I hated coffee for years and years, so maybe I just haven’t found the right tea.
I totally had the same issues as First Gen American. I had to quit for the same reasons and it was hard. I LOVED my morning cup of joe and I was really crabby when I went without it. Much better now though!
Matt, did you find anything to replace your cup of coffee? Cup of ice water with lemon?
I’m mostly a tea drinker but have definitely started to develop a love for coffee lately. I don’t drink coffee everyday because I don’t want my body to learn to rely on caffeine to function. But I agree with you a good cup of coffee with just the right combo of milk (vanilla soy milk for me) and sugar is quite lovely. And chocolate – omg I couldn’t live without it and it always lifts my mood! -Sydney
Chocolate is the best, even though I have become somewhat of a chocolate snob. As a treat (unrelated to coffee), I love the Ghiradelli squares with caramel. That is wonderful with a giant glass of ice water. (Or probably anything else…)
Don’t get me started! I love coffee, well caffeine in general. I try to limit myself to 3 cups per day so I don’t go crazy! Chocolate milk sounds yummy with it.
I have found my chocolate milk, slight sugar concoction tasks as good as anything I can buy. However, I haven’t bought much coffee out and about so maybe I am really missing something?
I’m quite like you! Not necessarily addicted, but do enjoy my one cup in the morning!
I haven’t tried adding chocolate to it, but now you are giving me ideas Kris! 🙂
Everyone should eat healthy chocolate Moneycone. Just make sure it is dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa, and you don’t have to worry about guilt. But, you must limit yourself to one square per day!
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